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Double Bass Feedback issues

Tony Gray

Tony Gray

Mar 6, 2006
350
4
#1
I've got an Engelhardt bass and a Revolution Solo II pickup. I play through several amps, most recently an SVT through a 6X10 cab. Lots of feedback, even through small amps,(Mesa Walkabout). Is this part of the deal?

I tape the F holes and that seems to fix it, but is there another option?
 
#2
I would recommend starting with a good high-pass filter with phase reverse. One such unit with these features is the HPF-Pre, which is available Invalid Link Removed from a member of this forum. Another unit to consider is the Fishman Pro EQ Platinum Bass preamp, which combines a high-pass filter ("Depth"), phase reverse plus EQ, a compressor and a DI with balanced XLR output.

Both are very high quality devices used by several members of this forum.

Also some pickups have more freedom from feedback than others. The Fishman Full Circle is a good choice for playing at loud volume levels.
 
#3
thesandman said:
I've got an Engelhardt bass and a Revolution Solo II pickup. I play through several amps, most recently an SVT through a 6X10 cab. Lots of feedback, even through small amps,(Mesa Walkabout). Is this part of the deal?

I tape the F holes and that seems to fix it, but is there another option?
Click to expand...

Have you tried different placement of your amps?
How loud are you trying to play?
Do your pick ups feedback less if you fudge with the wires on them?

I use a Fishman Platinum Pro Bass EQ on my DB, EUB, BG, and fretless BG. It's a real nice tool to have, you've got compression, eq, hi pass filter, and a DI box all in one box.
 
#4
robgrow's suggestions are excellent. Same w/ akmusicfreak's. Where you and your bass are placed relative to the speakers is a big factor. I know you want to hear yourself, but try to set up so the speakers are not firing directly into the body of your bass.

Also try dampening the afterlengths of the strings.
 
#5
bolo said:
robgrow's suggestions are excellent. Same w/ akmusicfreak's. Where you and your bass are placed relative to the speakers is a big factor. I know you want to hear yourself, but try to set up so the speakers are not firing directly into the body of your bass.

Also try dampening the afterlengths of the strings.
Click to expand...

+1-- The Rev. Solo II comes with an afterlength damper. Have you tried it, thesandman?
 
#8
Bass said:
+1 thanks Uncle! Sticky perhaps?

In my opinion the RSII is somewhat prone to feedback. It's important the pickup is installed flat and even at the right "tightness". and the position of the "lead" also seems to affect feedback.
Click to expand...

Wow, I've had the opposite experience with the RS II on two basses. Specifically, when reasonable precautions are taken (see advice above), I've had very little problems with feedback. I've never even used the afterlength damper.
 
#9
thesandman said:
I've got an Engelhardt bass and a Revolution Solo II pickup. I play through several amps, most recently an SVT through a 6X10 cab. Lots of feedback, even through small amps,(Mesa Walkabout). Is this part of the deal?

I tape the F holes and that seems to fix it, but is there another option?
Click to expand...

Listen to the the pitch of the feedback. Is it a low frequency or a high one? Using a Hi Pass Filter will help with low frequency feedback. Muting the after length with a Vibramute http://www.recyclednotes.com/can really help too. Finally, that 6x10 cabinet would be a problem with most basses because if it's size. Although it's possible to control feedback with that big cabinet it's way easier to use a smaller cabinet and send a mic to the house. So, if you
got the HPF Buffer Preamp and a Vibramute sending it to the house with a mic you could eliminate a lot of problems.


Ric
 
#10
Sandman, that is alot of speakers to play through.
Is your music style loud? I've been playing thru a borrowed ampeg ba115, fishman pro, then into the pa system.
My sound has been good at 5 diffrent gigs so far.
I play a 41 kay with an underwood p/u w/ 1 side off the bridge. Feedback is non existant for me. unless I face the speakers...That might be what you are dealing with. Good luck
 
#11
Thanks for the suggestions. I am primarily an electric player, and my son wants to use me for his band. He plays original music. The songs that I've heard so far ranges from pop (John Mayer/Jack Johnson), not loud, to alt. country -loud.

Yeah, a 610 cab is a lot, but it's what I use. I do have a Mesa Walkabout, and that's the amp that I've had the most feedback with. I'll try out your suggestions this weekend and report back.

Thanks again.
Tony
 
#12
The RSII is extremely sensitive to how flat and parallel the slot surfaces are and how it is placed within the slot. If the pickup is placed in an area of weak output, it will require more gain to get the volume needed, leading to feedback. Placed in an area of strong output, less gain will be needed. Move that little block of wood a bit and see if anything changes for you. My experience with it shows huge signal quality differences occur with very small changes in location and the quality of the surfaces.
 
#14
drurb said:
Wow, I've had the opposite experience with the RS II on two basses. Specifically, when reasonable precautions are taken (see advice above), I've had very little problems with feedback. I've never even used the afterlength damper.
Click to expand...

Oh? I've had the opposite experience with two basses also. It was a constant battle with feedback with the RSII (installed properly and taking reasonable precautions outlined above).

Swapping the pickup for an Underwood helped reduce feedback. Finally, the Bassmax I'm using now is even less feedback prone.
 

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